Apparatus, method and article for redistributing power storage devices, such as batteries, between collection, charging and distribution machines

ABSTRACT

A network of collection, charging and distribution machines collect, charge and distribute portable electrical energy storage devices. To charge, the machines employ electrical current from an external source. As demand at individual collection, charging and distribution machines increases or decreases relative to other collection, charging and distribution machines, a distribution management system initiates redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices from one collection, charging and distribution machine to another collection, charging and distribution machine in an expeditious manner. Also, redeemable incentives are offered to users to return or exchange their portable electrical energy storage devices at selected collection, charging and distribution machines within the network to effect the redistribution.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filingdate of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,900 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTINGPOWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/647,936 entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWERSTORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed May 16, 2012, U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,753 entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR REDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES, BETWEEN COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” andfiled Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/534,761 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION,SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” andfiled Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/534,772 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION,SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BASEDON USER PROFILES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/511,887 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OFCOMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/647,941 entitled“THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” andfiled May 16, 2012, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/511,880 entitled “DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BESTEFFORT ECONOMY” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/557,170 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD, AND ARTICLEFOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES” and filedNov. 8, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/581,566entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR A POWER STORAGE DEVICECOMPARMENT” and filed Dec. 29, 2011, U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/601,404 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORPROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA” and filed Feb. 21, 2012, U.S.provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/601,949 entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICECOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Feb. 22, 2012,and U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/601,953 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDINGAVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICECOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE” and filed Feb. 22, 2012.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The present disclosure generally relates to the distribution ofrechargeable electrical power storage devices (e.g., secondarybatteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors), which may be suitablefor use in a variety of fields or applications, for instancetransportation and non-transportation uses.

Description of the Related Art

There are a wide variety of uses or applications for portable electricalpower storage devices.

One such application is in the field of transportation. Hybrid and allelectrical vehicles are becoming increasingly common. Such vehicles mayachieve a number of advantages over traditional internal combustionengine vehicles. For example, hybrid or electrical vehicles may achievehigher fuel economy and may have little or even zero tail pipepollution. In particular, all electric vehicles may not only have zerotail pipe pollution, but may be associated with lower overall pollution.For example, electrical power may be generated from renewable sources(e.g., solar, hydro). Also for example, electrical power may begenerated at generation plants that produce no air pollution (e.g.,nuclear plants). Also for example, electrical power may be generated atgeneration plants that burn relatively “clean burning” fuels (e.g.,natural gas), which have higher efficiency than internal combustionengines, and/or which employ pollution control or removal systems (e.g.,industrial air scrubbers) which are too large, costly or expensive foruse with individual vehicles.

Personal transportation vehicles such as combustion engine poweredscooters and/or motorbikes are ubiquitous in many places, for example inthe many large cities of Asia. Such scooters and/or motorbikes tend tobe relatively inexpensive, particular as compared to automobiles, carsor trucks. Cities with high numbers of combustion engine scooters and/ormotorbikes also tend to be very densely populated and suffer from highlevels of air pollution. When new, many combustion engine scootersand/or motorbikes are equipped with a relatively low polluting source ofpersonal transportation. For instance, such scooters and/or motorbikesmay have higher mileage ratings than larger vehicles. Some scootersand/or motorbikes may even be equipped with basic pollution controlequipment (e.g., catalytic converter). Unfortunately, factory specifiedlevels of emission are quickly exceeded as the scooters and/ormotorbikes are used and either not maintained and/or as the scootersand/or motorbikes are modified, for example by intentional orunintentional removal of catalytic converters. Often owners or operatorsof scooters and/or motorbikes lack the financial resources or themotivation to maintain their vehicles.

It is known that air pollution has a negative effect on human health,being associated with causing or exacerbating various diseases (e.g.,various reports tie air pollution to emphysema, asthma, pneumonia,cystic fibrosis as well as various cardiovascular diseases). Suchdiseases take large numbers of lives and severely reduce the quality oflife of countless others.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Zero tail pipe pollution alternatives to combustion engines wouldgreatly benefit air quality, and hence the health of large populations.

While the zero tail pipe emissions benefit of all-electric vehicles areappreciated, adoption of all-electric vehicles by large populations hasbeen slow. One of the reasons appears to be the cost, particularly thecost of secondary batteries. Another one of the reasons appears to bethe limited driving range available on a single charge of a battery, andthe relatively long time (e.g., multiple hours) necessary to recharge asecondary battery when depleted.

The approaches described herein may address some of the issues whichhave limited adoption of zero tail pipe emission technology,particularly in densely crowded cities, and in populations with limitedfinancial resources.

For example, some of the approaches described herein employ collection,charging and distribution machines, which may be otherwise be termed askiosks or vending machines, to collect, charge and distribute electricalpower storage devices (e.g., batteries, supercapacitors orultracapacitors). Such machines may be distributed about a city or otherregion at a variety of locations, such as convenience stores or existinggas or petrol filling stations.

The collection, charging and distribution machines may maintain a stockof fully charged or almost fully charged electrical storage devices foruse by end users. The collection, charging and distribution machines maycollect, receive or otherwise accept depleted electrical storagedevices, for example as returned by end users, recharging such for reuseby subsequent end users.

Thus, as a battery or other electrical power storage device reaches orapproaches the end of its stored charge, an end user may simply replace,exchange or otherwise swap batteries or other electrical power storagedevices. This may address issues related to cost, as well as limitedrange and relatively long recharging times.

As previously noted, secondary batteries and other electrical powerstorage devices are relatively expensive. Thus, it is beneficial tostock the least number of electrical power storage devices possible,while still ensuring that demand for such is satisfied.

For these reasons, the ability to have electrical power storage devicesavailable is important to commercial success of any such endeavor. Anumber of approaches are described herein to provide availability ofcharged electrical power storage devices to meet current demand, even inbusy times of high traffic in certain locations. Such approachesgenerally determine a distribution of electrical power storage devicesbetween the collection, charging and distribution machines to provide abetter likelihood that charged electrical power storage devices will beavailable at high demand locations and provide methods for effecting theredistribution.

A method of operating a distribution system for portable electricalenergy storage devices may be summarized as including receiving, by atleast one configured distribution management system for portableelectrical energy storage devices, information regarding portableelectrical energy storage device exchanges occurring at a plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines for collection, chargingand distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices;analyzing, by the at least one configured distribution managementsystem, the information regarding portable electrical energy storagedevice exchanges to determine a redistribution of portable electricalenergy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines; and sending, by the at least one configureddistribution management system, information initiating theredistribution between the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines.

The information regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceexchanges may indicate a first one of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines has a lower inventory of chargedportable electrical energy storage devices than a second one of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines and whereinthe information initiating the redistribution may include information toinitiate redistribution of one or more portable electrical energystorage devices from the second one of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines to the first one of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines. The sending theinformation may include causing a message to be sent, the messageincluding information identifying a selected one or more of thecollection, charging and distribution machines to return a portableelectrical energy storage device to according to the determinedredistribution. The message may include a redeemable incentive to theuser to return the portable electrical energy storage device to theselected one or more collection, charging and distribution machines, theredeemable incentive being a credit provided to the user upon return ofthe portable electrical energy storage device to the selected one ormore collection, charging and distribution machines for an upgraded orpremium portable electrical energy storage device. The sending theinformation may include causing a message to be sent includinginstructions to redistribute one or more portable electrical energystorage devices from one or more collection, charging and distributionmachines having a surplus of charged portable electrical energy storagedevices to one or more other selected collection, charging anddistribution machines having a deficit of charged portable electricalenergy storage devices. The method may further include redistributingthe one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from the oneor more collection, charging and distribution machines having thesurplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to the oneor more other selected collection, charging and distribution machineshaving the deficit of charged portable electrical energy storagedevices. The redistributing may include physically moving one or moreportable electrical energy storage devices from the one or morecollection, charging and distribution machines having the surplus ofcharged portable electrical energy storage devices to the one or moreother selected collection, charging and distribution machines having thedeficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devices. Thephysically moving may be performed by one or more delivery vehicles. Themethod may further include sending, by the at least one configureddistribution management system, based on the analyzing the informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device exchanges,information initiating at least one of: installation of one or more newcollection, charging and distribution machines and removal of one ormore existing collection, charging and distribution machines of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.

A distribution management system for portable electrical energy storagedevices may be summarized as including at least one processor of thedistribution system; at least one processor-readable memory of thedistribution system that stores instructions executable by the at leastone processor to cause the at least one processor to: receiveinformation regarding demand for charged portable electrical energystorage devices, the demand being at a plurality of collection, chargingand distribution machines for portable electrical energy storagedevices; determine a redistribution of portable electrical energystorage devices between the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines according to at least the received informationregarding demand; and send information initiating the redistributionbetween the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.

The information regarding demand may include information regardingrelative demand for charged portable electrical energy storage devicesbetween different times of day, week or year. The information regardingdemand may include information regarding relative demand of chargedportable electrical energy storage devices between geographicallocations. The information regarding demand may include informationregarding historic usage patterns of one or more of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines. The informationregarding demand may include information regarding user vehiclelocations. The information regarding demand may include informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device charge capacity. Theinformation regarding demand may include information regarding portableelectrical energy storage device exchanges occurring at the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines. The informationregarding demand may include information regarding route information ofusers of one or more of the charged portable electrical energy storagedevices. The instructions executable by the at least one processor tocause the at least one processor to determine the redistribution mayinclude further instructions to cause the at least one processor todetermine the redistribution according to a first number of portableelectrical energy storage devices currently removably located at acollection, charging and distribution machine of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines to be charged at anaccelerated rate relative to at least a second number of portableelectrical energy storage devices currently removably located at thecollection, charging and distribution machine via energy supplied fromat least the second number of portable electrical energy storagedevices. The instructions executable by the at least one processor tocause the at least one processor to determine the redistribution causethe at least one processor to determine the redistribution by analyzingthe information regarding demand to increase the likelihood ofavailability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices atselected collection, charging and distribution machines of the pluralityof collection, charging and distribution machines to meet current orpredicted demand of charged portable electrical energy storage devicesat the selected collection, charging and distribution machines of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Theinstructions executable by the at least one processor may cause the atleast one processor to send information initiating the redistribution bycausing a message to be sent, the message including informationidentifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging anddistribution machines to return a portable electrical energy storagedevice to according to the determined redistribution. The informationmay be sent to one or more collection, charging and distributionmachines of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines. The instructions executable by the at least one processor maycause the at least one processor to send the information to one or moreusers of one or more a portable electrical energy storage devices, theone or more a portable electrical energy storage devices being from oneor more of the collection, charging and distribution machines of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Theinstructions executable by the at least one processor may cause the atleast one processor to send the information to one or more portableelectrical energy storage device transfer services.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions thatwhen executed by a collection, charging and distribution machine forportable electrical energy storage devices of a plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines for portable electrical energystorage devices, cause the collection, charging and distribution machineto perform: sending information regarding portable electrical energystorage device exchanges occurring at the collection, charging anddistribution machine; receiving information regarding portableelectrical energy storage device redistribution between the collection,charging and distribution machine and one or more other collection,charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines; receiving a request from a user toexchange a portable electrical energy storage device at the collection,charging and distribution machine; and responding to the request toexchange the portable electrical energy storage device based on thereceived information regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceredistribution.

The sending information regarding portable electrical energy storagedevice exchanges may include sending the information to a centralportable electrical energy storage device distribution managementsystem. The responding to the request to exchange the portableelectrical energy storage device may include causing a message to bepresented to the user regarding exchanging the portable electricalenergy storage device at one or more other selected collection, chargingand distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines according to the received information regardingportable electrical energy storage device redistribution. The messagemay include a redeemable incentive to the user to return the portableelectrical energy storage device to the one or more other selectedcollection, charging and distribution machines. The incentive may beredeemable as a discount or credit on fees related to use of one or moreof the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Thesending information regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceexchanges may include sending information regarding relative demand forcharged portable electrical energy storage devices at the collection,charging and distribution machine between different times of day, weekor year. The sending information regarding portable electrical energystorage device exchanges may include sending information regardinghistoric usage patterns at the collection, charging and distributionmachine. The sending information regarding portable electrical energystorage device exchanges may include sending information regarding usersof the collection, charging and distribution machine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, identical reference numbers identify similar elementsor acts. The sizes and relative positions of elements in the drawingsare not necessarily drawn to scale. For example, the shapes of variouselements and angles are not drawn to scale, and some of these elementsare arbitrarily enlarged and positioned to improve drawing legibility.Further, the particular shapes of the elements as drawn, are notintended to convey any information regarding the actual shape of theparticular elements, and have been solely selected for ease ofrecognition in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a collection, charging and distributionmachine along with a number of electrical power storage devicesaccording to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment, along with anelectric scooter or motorbike, and an electrical service provided via anelectrical grid.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the collection, charging and distributionmachine of FIG. 1, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system for redistribution of portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, such as that of FIG. 1, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the distribution management system of FIG.3 and FIG. 4, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including causing a message to be sent including informationidentifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging anddistribution machines, useful in the method of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including causing a message to be sent includinginstructions to redistribute electrical energy storage devices, usefulin the method of FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including redistributing portable electrical energy storagedevices, useful in the method of FIG. 5.

FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including sending information regarding installation orremoval of collection, charging and distribution machines, useful in themethod of FIG. 5.

FIG. 10 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including determining a redistribution based on receivedinformation regarding demand for charged portable electrical energystorage devices.

FIG. 11 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including determining the redistribution according to anaccelerated charging scenario at a collection, charging and distributionmachine, useful in the method of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including analyzing the information regarding demand toincrease the likelihood of availability of charged portable electricalenergy storage devices at selected machines, useful in the method ofFIG. 10.

FIG. 13 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thedistribution management system of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including sending the information regarding demand to one ormore portable electrical energy storage device transfer services, usefulin the method of FIG. 10.

FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing a high level method of operating thecollection, charging and distribution machine of FIG. 1 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thecollection, charging and distribution machine of FIG. 1 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including sending the information regarding portableelectrical energy storage device exchanges to a central portableelectrical energy storage device distribution management system, usefulin the method of FIG. 14.

FIG. 16 is a flow diagram showing a low level method of operating thecollection, charging and distribution machine of FIG. 1 to redistributeportable electrical energy storage devices between collection, chargingand distribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, by causing a message to be presented to the user regardingexchanging the portable electrical energy storage device at one or moreother selected machines, useful in the method of FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following description, certain specific details are set forth inorder to provide a thorough understanding of various disclosedembodiments. However, one skilled in the relevant art will recognizethat embodiments may be practiced without one or more of these specificdetails, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In otherinstances, well-known structures associated with vending apparatus,batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors, power convertersincluding but not limited to transformers, rectifiers, DC/DC powerconverters, switch mode power converters, controllers, andcommunications systems and structures and networks have not been shownor described in detail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring descriptions ofthe embodiments.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the specification andclaims which follow, the word “comprise” and variations thereof, suchas, “comprises” and “comprising” are to be construed in an open,inclusive sense that is as “including, but not limited to.”

Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment” or “anembodiment” means that a particular feature, structure or characteristicdescribed in connection with the embodiment is included in at least oneembodiment. Thus, the appearances of the phrases “in one embodiment” or“in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification arenot necessarily all referring to the same embodiment.

The use of ordinals such as first, second and third does not necessarilyimply a ranked sense of order, but rather may only distinguish betweenmultiple instances of an act or structure.

Reference to portable electrical power storage device means any devicecapable of storing electrical power and releasing stored electricalpower including but not limited to batteries, supercapacitors orultracapacitors. Reference to batteries means chemical storage cell orcells, for instance rechargeable or secondary battery cells includingbut not limited to nickel cadmium alloy or lithium ion battery cells.

The headings and Abstract of the Disclosure provided herein are forconvenience only and do not interpret the scope or meaning of theembodiments.

FIG. 1 shows an environment 100 including a collection, charging anddistribution machine 102, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may take the formof a vending machine or kiosk. The collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 has a plurality of receivers, compartments or receptacles104 a, 104 b-104 n (only three called out in FIG. 1, collectively 104)to removably receive portable electrical energy storage devices (e.g.,batteries, supercapacitors or ultracapacitors) 106 a-106 n (collectively106) for collection, charging and distribution. As illustrated in FIG.1, some of the receivers 104 are empty, while other receivers 104 holdportable electrical energy storage devices 106. While FIG. 1 shows asingle portable electrical energy storage device 106 per receiver 104,in some embodiments each receiver 104 may hold two or even more portableelectrical energy storage devices 106. For example, each of thereceivers 104 may be sufficiently deep to receive three portableelectrical energy storage devices 106. Thus, for example, thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 illustrated in FIG. 1may have a capacity capable of simultaneously holding 40, 80 or 120portable electrical energy storage devices 106.

The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 may take a variety offorms, for example batteries (e.g., array of battery cells) orsupercapacitors or ultracapacitors (e.g., array of ultracapacitorcells). For example, the portable electrical energy storage devices 106z may take the form of rechargeable batteries (i.e., secondary cells orbatteries). The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 z may,for instance, be sized to physically fit, and electrically power,personal transportation vehicles, such as all-electric scooters ormotorbikes 108. As previously noted, combustion engine scooters andmotorbikes are common in many large cities, for example in Asia, Europeand the Middle East. The ability to conveniently access chargedbatteries throughout a city or region may allow the use of all-electricscooters and motorbikes 108 in place of combustion engine scooters andmotorbikes, thereby alleviating air pollution, as well as reducingnoise.

The portable electrical energy storage devices 106 (only visible forportable electrical energy storage device 106 z) may include a number ofelectrical terminals 110 a, 110 b (two illustrated, collectively 110),accessible from an exterior of the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z. The electrical terminals 110 allow charge to be deliveredfrom the portable electrical energy storage device 106 z, as well asallow charge to be delivered to the portable electrical energy storagedevice 106 z for charging or recharging the same. While illustrated inFIG. 1 as posts, the electrical terminals 110 may take any other formwhich is accessible from an exterior of the portable electrical energystorage device 106 z, including electrical terminals positioned withinslots in a battery housing.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 is positioned atsome location 112 at which the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 is conveniently and easily accessible by various end users.The location may take any of a large variety of forms, for example, aretail environment such as a convenience store, supermarket, gas orpetrol station, or service shop. Alternatively, the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102 may stand alone at a location 112 notassociated with an existing retail or other business, for example inpublic parks or other public places. Thus, for example, collection,charging and distribution machines 102 may be located at each store of achain of convenience stores throughout a city or region. Such mayadvantageously rely on the fact that convenience stores are often sitedor distributed based on convenience to the target population ordemographic. Such may advantageously rely on pre-existing leases onstorefronts or other retail locations to allow an extensive network ofcollection, charging and distribution machines 102 to be quicklydeveloped in a city or region. Quickly achieving a large network whichis geographically well distributed to serve a target population enhancesthe ability to depend on such a system and likely commercial success ofsuch an effort.

However, some collection, charging and distribution machines 102 mayexperience higher demand for charged portable electrical energy storagedevices 106 than other collection, charging and distribution machines102 due to particular busy times of day, week or year and also due toother factors. These other factors may include, among others, a largeror smaller number of people using electrically powered vehicles inparticular locations than others and particular locations havingcollection, charging and distribution machines 102 in high traffic orconvenient areas for commuters. The ability to quickly build orreconfigure the network and/or redistribute charged portable electricalenergy storage devices 106 between, collection, charging anddistribution machines 102, as well as determine a better distributiongoing forward is addressed herein.

The location 112 may include an electrical service 114 to receiveelectrical power from a generating station (not shown) for example via agrid 116. The electrical service 114 may, for example, include one ormore of an electrical service meter 114 a, a circuit panel (e.g.,circuit breaker panel or fuse box) 114 b, wiring 114 c, and electricaloutlet 114 d. Where the location 112 is an existing retail orconvenience store, the electrical service 114 may be an existingelectrical service, so may be somewhat limited in rating (e.g., 120volts, 240 volts, 220 volts, 230 volts, 15 amps).

Neither the operator of the retail location 112, nor the owner,distributor or operator of the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 may wish to bear the costs of upgrading the electricalservice 114. Yet, quick charging is desired in order to maintain anadequate supply of portable electrical energy storage devices 106available for use by end users. The ability to quickly charge whilemaintaining existing or otherwise limited rated electrical service isaddressed in U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,900,entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Jul.26, 2011.

Optionally, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 mayinclude or be coupled to a source of renewable electrical power. Forexample, where installed in an outside location the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102 may include an array of photovoltaic (PV)cells 118 to produce electrical power from solar insolation.Alternatively, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 maybe electrically coupled to a microturbine (e.g., wind turbine) or PVarray positioned elsewhere at the location 112, for instance on a rooftop or pole mounted at a top of a pole (not shown).

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may becommunicatively coupled to one or more remotely located computersystems, such as back end or back office systems (only one shown) 120.The back end or back office systems 120 may collect data from and/orcontrol a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machine 102distributed about an area, such as a city. The communications may occurover one or more communications channels including one or more networks122, or non-networked communications channels. Communications may beover one or more wired communications channels (e.g., twisted pairwiring, optical fiber), wireless communications channels (e.g., radio,microwave, satellite, 801.11 compliant). Networked communicationschannels may include one or more local area networks (LANs), wide areanetworks (WANs), extranets, intranets, or the Internet including theWorldwide Web portion of the Internet.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 may include a userinterface 124. The user interface may include a variety of input/output(I/O) devices to allow an end user to interact with the collection,charging and distribution machine 102. Various I/O devices are calledout and described in reference to FIG. 2, which follows.

FIG. 2 shows the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 ofFIG. 1, according to one illustrated embodiment.

The collection, charging and distribution machine 102 includes a controlsubsystem 202, a charging subsystem 204, a communications subsystem 206,and a user interface subsystem 208.

The control subsystem 202 includes a controller 210, for example amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC),programmable gate array (PGA), application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or another controller capable of receiving signals from varioussensors, performing logical operations, and sending signals to variouscomponents. Typically, the controller 210 may take the form of amicroprocessor (e.g., INTEL, AMD, ATOM). The control subsystem 202 mayalso include one or more non-transitory processor- or computer-readablestorage media, for example read only memory (ROM) 212, random accessmemory (RAM) 214, and data store 216 (e.g., solid-state storage mediasuch as flash memory or EEPROM, spinning storage media such as harddisk). The non-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media212, 214, 216 may be in addition to any non-transitory storage medium(e.g., registers) which is part of the controller 210. The controlsubsystem 202 may include one or more buses 218 (only one illustrated)coupling various components together, for example one or more powerbuses, instruction buses, data buses, etc.

As illustrated, the ROM 212, or some other one of the non-transitoryprocessor- or computer-readable storage media 212, 214, 216, storesinstructions and/or data or values for variables or parameters. The setsof data may take a variety of forms, for example a lookup table, a setof records in a database, etc. The instructions and sets of data orvalues are executable by the controller 210. Execution of theinstructions and sets of data or values causes the controller 210 toperform specific acts to cause the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 to collect, charge, and distribute portable energy storagedevices. Specific operation of the collection, charging and distributionmachine 102 is described herein and also below with reference to variousflow diagrams (FIGS. 14-16).

The controller 210 may use RAM 214 in a conventional fashion, forvolatile storage of instructions, data, etc. The controller 210 may usedata store 216 to log or retain information, for example telemetricinformation related to collection, charging and/or distribution orcollection of the portable electric power storage devices 106 and/oroperation of the collection, charging and distribution machine 102itself. The instructions are executable by the controller 210 to controloperation of the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 inresponse to end user or operator input, and using data or values for thevariables or parameters.

The control subsystem 202 receives signals from various sensors and/orother components of the collection, charging and distribution machine102 which include information that characterizes or is indicative ofoperation, status, or condition of such other components. Sensors arerepresented in FIG. 2 by the letter S appearing in a circle along withappropriate subscript letters.

For example, one or more position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may detect thepresence or absence of portable electrical power storage device 106 ateach of the receivers 104. The position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take avariety of forms. For example, the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) maytake the form of mechanical switches that are closed, or alternativelyopened, in response to contact with a portion of a respective portableelectrical power storage device 106 when the portable electrical powerstorage device 106 is inserted into the receiver 104. Also for example,the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take the form of optical switches(i.e., optical source and receiver) that are closed, or alternativelyopened, in response to contact with a portion of a respective portableelectrical power storage device 106 when the portable electrical powerstorage device 106 is inserted into the receiver 104. Also for example,the position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may take the form of electricalsensors or switches that are closed, or alternatively opened, inresponse to detecting a closed circuit condition created by contact withthe terminals 110 of a respective portable electrical power storagedevice 106 when the portable electrical power storage device 106 isinserted into the receiver 104, or an open circuit condition thatresults from the lack of a respective portable electrical power storagedevice 106 in the receiver 104. These examples are intended to benon-limiting, and it is noted that any other structures and devices fordetecting the presence/absence or even the insertion of the portableelectrical power storage devices 106 into receivers may be employed.

For example, one or more charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may detect chargeof the portable electrical power storage devices 106 at each of thereceivers 104. Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may detect the amount ofcharge stored by the portable electrical power storage devices 106.Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may additionally detect an amount of chargeand/or rate of charging being supplied to ones of the portableelectrical power storage devices 106 at each of the receivers 104. Suchmay allow assessment of current (i.e., temporal) charge condition orstatus of each portable electrical power storage device 106, as well asallow feedback control over charging of same, including control overrate of charging. Charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN) may include any varietyof current and/or voltage sensors.

For example, one or more charge sensors S_(T1) (only one shown) maydetect or sense a temperature at the receivers 104 or in the ambientenvironment.

The control subsystem 202 provides signals to various actuators and/orother components responsive to control signals, which signals includeinformation that characterizes or is indicative of an operation thecomponent is to perform or a state or condition in which the componentsshould enter. Control signals, actuators or other components responsiveto control signals are represented in FIG. 2 by the letter C appearingin a circle along with appropriate subscript letters.

For example, one or more engine control signals C_(C1)-C_(AN) may affectthe operation of one or more actuators 220 (only one illustrated). Forinstance, a control signal C_(A1) may cause movement of an actuator 220between a first and a second position or change a magnetic fieldproduced by the actuator 220. The actuator 220 may take any of a varietyof forms, including but not limited to a solenoid, an electric motorsuch as a stepper motor, or an electromagnet. The actuator 220 may becoupled to operate a latch, lock or other retainer mechanism 222. Thelatch, lock or other retainer mechanism 222 may selectively secure orretain one or more portable electrical power storage devices 106(FIG. 1) in the receiver 104 (FIG. 1). For instance, the latch, lock orother retainer mechanism 222 may physically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of a housing of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 (FIG. 1). Alternatively, the latch, lock or otherretainer mechanism 222 may magnetically couple to a complimentarystructure that is part of a housing of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 (FIG. 1). Also for instance, the latch, lock orother mechanism may open a receiver 104 (FIG. 1), or may allow areceiver 104 to be opened, to receive a partially or fully dischargedportable electrical power storage device 106 for charging. For example,the actuator may open and/or close a door to the receiver 104 (FIG. 1),to selectively provide access to a portable electrical power storagedevice 106 (FIG. 1) received therein. Also for example, the actuator mayopen and/or close a latch or lock, allowing an end user to open and/orclose a door to the receiver 104 (FIG. 1), to selectively provide accessto a portable electrical power storage device 106 (FIG. 1) receivedtherein.

The control subsystem 202 may include one or more ports 224 a to providecontrol signals to one or more ports 224 b of the charging subsystem204. The ports 224 a, 224 b may provide bi-directional communications.The control subsystem 202 may include one or more ports 226 a to providecontrol signals to one or more ports 226 b of the user interfacesubsystem 208. The ports 226 a, 226 b may provide bi-directionalcommunications.

The charging subsystem 204 includes various electrical and electroniccomponents to charge portable electrical power storage devices 106 whenpositioned or received in the receivers 104. For example, the chargingsubsystem 204 may include one or more power buses or power bus bars,relays, contactors or other switches (e.g., insulated gate bipolartransistors or IGBTs, metal oxide semiconductor transistors or MOSFETs),rectifier bridge(s), current sensors, ground fault circuitry, etc. Theelectrical power is supplied via contacts that can take any of a varietyof forms, for instance terminals, leads, posts, etc. The contacts allowelectrical coupling of various components. Some possible implementationsare illustrated in FIG. 2. Such is not intended to be exhaustive.Additional components may be employed while other components may beomitted.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 includes a first power converter230 that receives electrical power from the electrical service 114(FIG. 1) via a line or cord 232. The power will typically be in the formof single, two or three phase AC electrical power. As such, the firstpower converter 230 may need to convert and otherwise condition theelectrical power received via the electrical services 114 (FIG. 1), forexample for rectifying an AC waveform to DC, transforming voltage,current, phase, as well as reducing transients and noise. Thus, thefirst power converter 230 may include a transformer 234, rectifier 236,DC/DC power converter 238, and filter(s) 240.

The transformer 234 may take the form of any variety of commerciallyavailable transformers with suitable ratings for handling the powerreceived via the electrical service 114 (FIG. 1). Some embodiments mayemploy multiple transformers. The transformer 234 may advantageouslyprovide galvanic isolation between the components of the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 and the grid 116 (FIG. 1). Therectifier 236 may take any of variety of forms, for example a fullbridge diode rectifier or a switch mode rectifier. The rectifier 236 maybe operated to transform AC electrical power to DC electrical power. TheDC/DC power converter 238 may be any of a large variety of forms. Forexample, DC/DC power converter 238 may take the form a switch mode DC/DCpower converter, for instance employing IGBTs or MOSFETs in a half orfull bridge configuration, and may include one or more inductors. TheDC/DC power converter 238 may have any number of topologies including aboost converter, buck converter, synchronous buck converter, buck-boostconverter or fly-back converter. The filter(s) 240 may include one ormore capacitors, resistors, Zener diodes or other elements to suppressvoltage spikes, or to remove or reduce transients and/or noise.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 may also receive electrical powerfrom a renewable power source, for example the PV array 118 (FIG. 1).Such may be converted or conditioned by the first power converter 230,for example being supplied directly to the DC/DC power converter 238,bypassing the transformer 234 and/or rectifier 236. Alternatively, theillustrated charging subsystem 204 may include a dedicated powerconverter to convert or otherwise condition such electrical power.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 may optionally include secondpower converter 242 that receives electrical power from one or moreportable electrical power storage devices 106 (FIG. 1) via one or morelines 244, for charging other ones of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106. As such, the second power converter 242 may need toconvert and/or otherwise condition the electrical power received fromportable electrical power storage devices 106, for example optionallytransforming voltage or current, as well as reducing transients andnoise. Thus, the second power converter 242 may optionally include aDC/DC power converter 246 and/or filter(s) 248. Various types of DC/DCpower converters and filters are discussed above.

The illustrated charging subsystem 204 includes a plurality of switches250 responsive to the control signals delivered via ports 224 a, 224 bfrom the control subsystem 202. The switches may be operable toselectively couple a first number or set of portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 to be charged from electrical power supplied by boththe electrical service via the first power converter 230 and fromelectrical power supplied by a second number or set of portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The first number or set ofportable electrical power storage devices 106 may include a singleportable electrical power storage device 106, two, or even more portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The second number or set ofportable electrical power storage devices 106 may include a singleportable electrical power storage device 106, two, or even more portableelectrical power storage devices 106. The portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 are represented in FIG. 2 as loads L₁,L₂-L_(N).

The communications subsystem 206 may additionally include one or morecommunications modules or components which facilitate communicationswith the various components of a back end or back office system 120(FIG. 1). The communications subsystem 206 may, for example, include oneor more modems 252 or one or more Ethernet or other types ofcommunications cards or components 254. A port 256 a of the controlsubsystem 202 may communicatively couple the control subsystem 202 witha port 256 b of the communications subsystem 206. The communicationssubsystem 206 may provide wired and/or wireless communications. Thecommunications subsystem 206 may include one or more ports, wirelessreceivers, wireless transmitters or wireless transceivers to providewireless signal paths to the various remote components or systems. Theremote communications subsystem 206 may include one or more bridges orrouters suitable to handle network traffic including switched packettype communications protocols (TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networkingprotocols.

The user interface system 208 includes one or more user input/output(I/O) components. For example, user interface system 208 may include atouch screen display 208 a, operable to present information and agraphical user interface (GUI) to an end user and to receive indicationsof user selections. The user interface system 208 may include a keyboardor keypad 208 b, and/or a cursor controller (e.g., mouse, trackball,trackpad) (not illustrated) to allow an end user to enter informationand/or select user selectable icons in a GUI. The user interface system208 may include a speaker 208 c to provide aural messages to an end userand/or a microphone 208 d to receive spoken user input such as spokencommands.

The user interface system 208 may include a card reader 208 e to readinformation from card type media 209. The card reader 208 e may take avariety of forms. For instance, the card reader 208 e may take the formof, or include, a magnetic stripe reader for reading information encodedin a magnetic stripe carried by a card 209. For instance, the cardreader 208 e may take the form of, or include, a machine-readable symbol(e.g., barcode, matrix code) card reader for reading information encodedin a machine-readable symbol carried by a card 209. For instance, thecard reader 208 e may take the form of, or include, a smart card readerfor reading information encoded in a non-transitory medium carried by acard 209. Such may, for instance, include media employing radiofrequency identification (RFID) transponders or electronic payment chips(e.g., near filed communications (NFC) chips). Thus, the card reader 208e may be able to read information from a variety of card media 209, forinstance credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, prepaid cards, as wellas identification media such as drivers licenses.

The user interface system 208 may include a bill acceptor 208 f and avalidator and/or coin acceptor 208 g to accept and validate cashpayments. Such may be highly useful in servicing populations who lackaccess to credit. Bill acceptor and validator 208 f and/or coin acceptor208 g may take any variety of forms, for example those that arecurrently commercially available and used in various vending machinesand kiosks.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a system 300 for redistribution of portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, such as that of FIG. 1, according to onenon-limiting illustrated embodiment.

Shown is a distribution management system 302 for managing distributionand redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices 106between collection, charging and distribution machines, such as, forexample, machines like the collection, charging and distribution machine102 of FIG. 1. In some embodiments, the distribution management system302 may be the back end or back office system 120 shown in FIG. 1. Inother embodiments, the distribution management system 302 may be part ofor may in operable communication with, the back end or back officesystem 120 shown in FIG. 1.

For illustrative purposes, shown are two example areas, Area X 306 andArea Y 304, which each contain one or more collection, charging anddistribution machines and one or more electrically powered vehicles. Asshown in FIG. 3, as an example, Area Y 304 includes collection, chargingand distribution machine 308 a, collection, charging and distributionmachine 308 b and vehicle 310 a. Area X 306 includes collection,charging and distribution machine 308 c, collection, charging anddistribution machine 308 d and vehicle 310 b. Each area represents adifferent geographic location whose boundaries may be defined by anynumber of criteria including, but not limited to, property,neighborhood, district, municipality, city, population, county, state,province, country, road, water, longitudinal or latitudinal, boundariesor any other public, private, physical or political boundary. Also, eacharea may contain fewer or more collection, charging and distributionmachines and/or fewer or more electrically powered vehicles. In otherconfigurations and embodiments, there may be fewer or more areas, orthere may not be any particular area defined.

The distribution management system 302 is in operable communication withthe collection, charging and distribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 cand 308 d, as well as a portable electrical energy storage devicetransfer service 312 and one or more user mobile communication devices313 (only one shown as an example), such that data may be exchangedbetween the distribution management system 302, the collection, chargingand distribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, the portableelectrical energy storage device transfer service 312, and the usermobile communication device 313. This data may be actual, expected orpredicted demand for charged portable electrical energy storage devicesat specific locations, areas and machines, portable electrical energystorage device exchanges occurring at various machines, and/or regardingredistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices betweencharging and distribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d. Also,the distribution management system 302, the collection, charging anddistribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, the portableelectrical energy storage device transfer service 312, and the usermobile communication device 313 may, in some embodiments, additionallyor instead be in operable communication directly with each other.

This communication between the various items, systems and entities ofFIG. 3 is enabled by the various communications subsystems of thesevarious items, systems and entities. For example, this communication maybe enabled by the various communications subsystems of the distributionmachines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, the distribution managementsystem 302, the vehicles 310 a and 310 b, the transfer service 312 andthe user mobile communications device 313. One or more of suchcommunication subsystems may provide wired and/or wirelesscommunications (e.g., cellular, local area network connections, and/orshort range wireless connections). The communications subsystems of theitems in FIG. 3 may include one or more ports, wireless receivers,wireless transmitters or wireless transceivers to provide wirelesssignal paths to the various remote components or systems. The remotecommunications subsystems may include one or more bridges or routerssuitable to handle network traffic including switched packet typecommunications protocols (TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networkingprotocols.

As actual, expected or predicted demand at individual collection,charging and distribution machines increases or decreases relative toother collection, charging and distribution machines, there may be asurplus or deficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devicesat certain machines, or in particular areas having one or more machines,at any given time. Thus, in order to meet the current demand, it may beadvantageous to redistribute one or more charged portable electricalenergy storage devices from one collection, charging and distributionmachine to another collection, charging and distribution machine in anexpeditious manner. Also, it may be advantageous to have users exchangetheir depleted portable electrical energy storage devices at collection,charging and distribution machines that have a larger surplus of chargedportable electrical energy storage devices.

For example, if collection, charging and distribution machine 308 a has50 charged electrical energy storage devices and collection, chargingand distribution machine 308 c has only 3 charged electrical energystorage devices, it may be advantageous to redistribute one or moreelectrical energy storage devices from collection, charging anddistribution machine 308 a to collection, charging and distributionmachine 308 c if collection, charging and distribution machine 308 a isexperiencing less demand than collection, charging and distributionmachine 308 c. In order to do so, once the imbalance is detected by thedistribution management system 302, the distribution management system302 may automatically send instructions to the transfer service 312 tophysically perform the redistribution or bring additional chargedelectrical energy storage devices into the network of collection,charging and distribution machines. This process may be accomplished ina variety of ways.

For example, the distribution management system 302 may receive anupdate from collection, charging and distribution machine 308 cindicating the current inventory of charged electrical energy storagedevices, and/or the distribution management system 302 may receive analert from collection, charging and distribution machine 308 a that itis below a threshold level of charged electrical energy storage devices.In some embodiments, the distribution management system 302 maycontinually or periodically monitor the inventories of chargedelectrical energy storage devices of all or many of the collection,charging and distribution machines and then determine which ones of thecollection, charging and distribution machines experiencing lower demandmay sacrifice charged electrical energy storage devices to provide toother collection, charging and distribution machines experiencing ahigher demand at a given time. Also, the collection, charging anddistribution machines may continually or periodically provide updates tothe distribution management system 302 regarding the inventory ofcharged electrical energy storage devices of the respective collection,charging and distribution machine. The transfer service 312 may thenautomatically dispatch a person to physically transfer chargedelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, or deliver one or more additional chargedelectrical energy storage devices into the network of collection,charging and distribution machines at the high demand collection,charging and distribution machines.

In some embodiments, once the distribution management system 302 isalerted or determines that a redistribution should occur, thedistribution management system 302 may cause a message to be sent to oneor more users including information identifying selected collection,charging and distribution machines to return their portable electricalenergy storage device to according to the determined redistribution. Themessage may be received, for example, by the user's mobile communicationdevice 313 or by a communication device of the user's vehicle. If theuser returns a depleted or nearly depleted portable electrical energystorage device to a collection, charging and distribution machine thathas a higher relative surplus of charged electrical energy storagedevices then the demand at the collection, charging and distributionmachines that have a relative deficit of electrical energy storagedevices may be eased, thus increasing the likelihood of availability ofcharged portable electrical energy storage devices within the system 300as a whole and better meeting the overall demand of charged electricalenergy storage devices within the system 300.

In some instances, the selected collection, charging and distributionmachines may be further away from the user's current location than othercollection, charging and distribution machines that perhaps arecurrently experiencing higher demand. Thus, the message may include aredeemable incentive for the user to exchange or return their portableelectrical energy storage devices to one of the selected collection,charging and distribution machines instead. For example, the incentivemay be redeemable as a discount or credit on fees related to the use ofone or more of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines. Also, users may be provided similar incentives to return orexchange electrical energy storage devices before they are depleted oralmost depleted to head off or smooth out an anticipated spike indemand. For example, when a user exchanges a portable electrical energystorage device before the charge is depleted or almost depleted, thereturned portable electrical energy storage device may have a chance tocharge fully before an anticipated spike in demand (e.g., during timeswhen there are anticipated large numbers of users on the road or duringtimes when demand is otherwise high) while the newly charged portableelectrical energy storage device for which it was exchanged isanticipated to last throughout the spike in demand. The current chargelevels may be detected using a combination of various portableelectrical energy storage device sensors, tracking systems, and wirelesscommunication systems described herein, may be estimated based on userusage history and time elapsed since the user's last portable electricalenergy storage device exchange, or may be detected by the collection,charging and distribution machine once the user attempts to return theportable electrical energy storage device.

Also, the distribution management system 302 may automatically initiatea process to install new collection, charging and distribution machinesor remove old collection, charging and distribution machines,respectively, in particular areas experiencing high demand and frequentdeficit of charged electrical energy storage devices or low demand andfrequent deficit of charged electrical energy storage devices. Forexample, if all the collection, charging and distribution machines in aparticular area, such as collection, charging and distribution machine308 a and collection, charging and distribution machine 308 b in Area Y304, frequently experience a deficit of charged electrical energystorage devices as determined by the distribution management system 302,then the distribution management system 302 may automatically initiate aprocess to install new collection, charging and distribution machines inthat area (e.g., Area Y) to meet the demand. The distribution managementsystem 302 may, for example, send an electronic indication to dispatchone or more service systems to install one or more collection, chargingand distribution machines in available locations within Area Y 304. Acharged portable electrical energy storage device deficit may, forexample, be detected by an inventory of charged electrical energystorage devices at one or more collection, charging and distributionmachines falling below a threshold, by the quantity of attempted chargedportable electrical energy storage device acquisitions by users at oneor more collection, charging and distribution machines, etc.

The threshold may be determined based on or as a function of any varietyof factors, including, but not limited to: actual or current demand oranticipated or predicted demand for charged electrical energy storagedevices, number of portable electrical energy storage deviceacquisitions or exchanges at one or more collection, charging anddistribution machines, number of portable electrical energy storagedevice acquisitions or exchanges at one or more collection, charging anddistribution machines within a specified time period, quantity of usersand/or quantity of user vehicles currently within a specified locationor area, quantity of user vehicles currently operating within aspecified location or area, current time period (e.g., time of day,month, year, holiday, etc.), route data of users, location ofcollection, charging and distribution machine, traffic conditions, andany other factors related to portable electrical energy storage devicedemand or anticipated portable electrical energy storage device demand.

Data regarding the quantity of users and/or quantity of user vehiclescurrently within a specified location or area, the quantity of uservehicles currently operating within a specified location or area and theroute data of users may be tracked and/or stored via one or anycombination of: previous collection, charging and distribution machineusage locations of individual users, user vehicle telematic andtelemetric systems, navigation and/or location services such as globalpositioning systems (GPS), satellite tracking systems, and deadreckoning based on previous collection, charging and distributionmachine usage locations, etc., associated with and/or in operablecommunication with the user's mobile communication device 313, currentportable electrical energy storage device, and/or vehicle (e.g., vehicle310 a). This data may be provided to the distribution management system302 to determine current or anticipated demand to redistributeelectrical energy storage devices to better meet the current oranticipated demand. In some embodiments, provision and use of one ormore of such tracking systems may be required of users in order to usethe collection, charging and distribution machines, as may beautomatically indicated and verified via a user account and identityverification at the respective collection, charging and distributionmachine by use of various authentication measures as described herein.

A user's historical route information may be utilized by thedistribution management system 302 to anticipate demand for chargedelectrical energy storage devices, and thus determine the chargedportable electrical energy storage device inventory thresholds describedabove. For example, if a user of vehicle 310 a historically makes aweekly route stopping at collection, charging and distribution machine308 a on day 1, then collection, charging and distribution machine 308 bon day 4 and then collection, charging and distribution machine 308 d onday 7, each time to acquire a charged portable electrical energy storagedevice, then the distribution management system 302 may anticipate thatthere will be a demand for at least one charged portable electricalenergy storage device at collection, charging and distribution machine308 a on day 1, at collection, charging and distribution machine 308 bon day 4 and then at collection, charging and distribution machine 308 don day 7, for each normal week going forward. The distributionmanagement system 302 may also anticipate approximate times on each daythe demand will occur based on the regularity of the usage history ofthe user with respect to the times of day of the usage. The distributionmanagement system 302 may then aggregate such data for all known usersto estimate and thus anticipate a quantity of charged electrical energystorage devices that will likely be needed at each collection, chargingand distribution machine according to regular usage patterns.

By tracking the regular routes of the users rather than just the numberof charged portable electrical energy storage device acquisitions orattempted acquisitions occurring at various times at each collection,charging and distribution machine, the distribution management system302 may also estimate the current charge level of the portableelectrical energy storage device of the user, to anticipate an upcomingdemand for a charged portable electrical energy storage device. Forexample, if the user of vehicle 310 a having a regular usage and routehistory as described above, but instead all within Area Y 304, hasvisited collection, charging and distribution machine 308 a on day 1,but it is now day 7 and the user has not since visited anothercollection, charging and distribution machine, the distributionmanagement system 302 may assume for estimation purposes that theportable electrical energy storage device of the user is nearly depletedand a demand for a charged portable electrical energy storage devicewithin the user's area (Area Y 304) will occur very soon. As describedabove, the distribution management system 302 may aggregate all suchdata for all known users to estimate and thus anticipate a quantity ofcharged electrical energy storage devices that will likely be needed ateach collection, charging and distribution machine according to regularusage patterns and other factors.

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of the distribution management system 302 ofFIG. 3, according to one non-limiting illustrated embodiment.

The distribution management system 302 includes a control subsystem 402,a charging subsystem 204, a communications subsystem 406, and a userinterface subsystem 408.

The control subsystem 402 includes a controller 410, for example amicroprocessor, microcontroller, programmable logic controller (PLC),programmable gate array (PGA), application specific integrated circuit(ASIC) or another controller capable of receiving signals from varioussensors, performing logical operations, and sending signals to variouscomponents. Typically, the controller 410 may take the form of amicroprocessor (e.g., INTEL, AMD, ATOM). The control subsystem 402 mayalso include one or more non-transitory processor- or computer-readablestorage media, for example read only memory (ROM) 412, random accessmemory (RAM) 414, and data store 416 (e.g., solid-state storage mediasuch as flash memory or EEPROM, spinning storage media such as harddisk). The non-transitory processor- or computer-readable storage media412, 414, 416 may be in addition to any non-transitory storage medium(e.g., registers) which is part of the controller 410. The controlsubsystem 402 may include one or more buses 418 (only one illustrated)coupling various components together, for example one or more powerbuses, instruction buses, data buses, etc.

As illustrated, the ROM 412, or some other one of the non-transitoryprocessor- or computer-readable storage media 412, 414, 416, storesinstructions and/or data or values for variables or parameters. The setsof data may take a variety of forms, for example a lookup table, a setof records in a database, etc. The instructions and sets of data orvalues are executable by the controller 410. Execution of theinstructions and sets of data or values causes the controller 410 toperform specific acts to cause the distribution management system 302 tomanage distribution and redistribution of portable electrical energystorage devices 106 between collection, charging and distributionmachines, such as, for example, machines like the collection, chargingand distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1. Specific operation of thedistribution management system 302 is described herein and also belowwith reference to various flow diagrams (FIGS. 5-13).

The controller 410 may use RAM 414 in a conventional fashion, forvolatile storage of instructions, data, etc. The controller 410 may usedata store 416 to log or retain information, for example, informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device acquisitions andexchanges occurring at a plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines, information regarding demand for charged portableelectrical energy storage devices, the demand being at a plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines for portable electricalenergy storage devices, information regarding relative demand forcharged portable electrical energy storage devices between differenttimes of day, week or year, information regarding relative demand ofcharged portable electrical energy storage devices between geographicallocations, information regarding historic usage patterns of one or moreof the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines,information regarding user vehicle locations and telematic and/ortelemetric user vehicle information, information regarding portableelectrical energy storage device charge capacity, information regardingroute information of users of one or more of the charged portableelectrical energy storage devices, information regarding energy storagedevices, telemetric information related to collection, charging and/ordistribution or collection of the portable electric power storagedevices 106 and/or operation of the distribution management system 302itself. The instructions are executable by the controller 410 to controloperation of the distribution management system 302 in response to inputfrom remote systems such as collection, charging and distributionmachines, collection, charging and distribution machine service systems,user mobile devices, user vehicles, and end user or operator input, andusing data or values for the variables or parameters.

The control subsystem 402 may also receive signals from various sensorsand/or components of a collection, charging and distribution machine,such as the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1via the communications subsystem 206 of collection, charging anddistribution machine 102. This information may include information thatcharacterizes or is indicative of operation, status, or condition ofsuch components. Sensors are represented in FIG. 2 by the letter Sappearing in a circle along with appropriate subscript letters. Forexample, one or more position sensors S_(P1)-S_(PN) may detect thepresence or absence of portable electrical power storage device 106 ateach of the receivers 104. This information may be communicated to thecontrol subsystem 402. Also, one or more charge sensors S_(C1)-S_(CN)may detect a charge level charge of the portable electrical powerstorage devices 106 at each of the receivers 104. This information mayalso be communicated to the control subsystem 402.

The communications subsystem 406 may include one or more communicationsmodules or components which facilities communications with the variouscomponents of a collection, charging and distribution machine, such ascollection, charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1 and also thevarious components of the collection, charging and distribution machines308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d of FIG. 3, the portable electrical energystorage device transfer service 312 and the one or more user mobilecommunication devices 313, such that data may be exchanged between thedistribution management system 302, the collection, charging anddistribution machines 308 a, 308 b, 308 c and 308 d, the portableelectrical energy storage device transfer service 312, and the usermobile communication device 313. The communications subsystem 406 may,for example, include one or more modems 452 or one or more Ethernet orother types of communications cards or components 454. A port 456 a ofthe control subsystem 402 may communicatively couple the controlsubsystem 402 with a port 456 b of the communications subsystem 406. Thecommunications subsystem 406 may provide wired and/or wirelesscommunications. The communications subsystem 406 may include one or moreports, wireless receivers, wireless transmitters or wirelesstransceivers to provide wireless signal paths to the various remotecomponents or systems. The remote communications subsystem 406 mayinclude one or more bridges or routers suitable to handle networktraffic including switched packet type communications protocols(TCP/IP), Ethernet or other networking protocols.

The user interface system 408 includes one or more user input/output(I/O) components (not illustrated). For example, user interface system408 may include a touch screen display operable to present informationand a graphical user interface (GUI) to a user and to receiveindications of user selections. The user interface system 408 mayinclude a keyboard or keypad, and/or a cursor controller (e.g., mouse,trackball, trackpad) to allow a user to enter information and/or selectuser selectable icons in a GUI.

FIG. 5 shows a high level method 500 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

At 502, the distribution management system 302 receives informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device exchanges occurringat a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines forcollection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energystorage devices. For example, this information may be representative ofcurrent demand for charged portable electrical energy storage device atindividual collection, charging and distribution machines, orcollectively for a group of collection, charging and distributionmachines.

At 504, the distribution management system 302 analyzes the informationregarding portable electrical energy storage device exchanges todetermine a redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devicesbetween the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.For example, in order to meet the current actual demand or predicteddemand, it may be advantageous to redistribute one or more chargedportable electrical energy storage devices from one collection, chargingand distribution machine to another collection, charging anddistribution machine in an expeditious manner, or to introduce newcharged portable electrical energy storage device into a network ofcollection, charging and distribution machines, or install newcollection, charging and distribution machines within the network tohandle the increased desired inventory to meet demand.

At 506, the distribution management system 302 sends informationinitiating the redistribution between the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines.

The information regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceexchanges may indicate a first one of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines has a lower inventory of chargedportable electrical energy storage devices than a second one of theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines. Theinformation initiating the redistribution may include information toinitiate redistribution of one or more portable electrical energystorage devices from the second one of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines to the first one of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines.

FIG. 6 shows a low level method 600 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including causing a message to be sent including informationidentifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging anddistribution machines, useful in the method of FIG. 5.

At 602, the distribution management system 302 causes a message to besent. The message includes information identifying a selected one ormore of the collection, charging and distribution machines to return aportable electrical energy storage device to, according to thedetermined redistribution. In some embodiments, the message includes aredeemable incentive to the user to return the portable electricalenergy storage device to the selected one or more collection, chargingand distribution machines.

For example, the incentive may be a credit, payment, points, coupon,card or voucher provided to the user upon the user returning theportable electrical energy storage device at the selected collection,charging and distribution machine. The selected collection, charging anddistribution machine may communicate the return of the portableelectrical energy storage device to an accounting subsystem that isconfigured to provide a credit to the account of the user or communicatethe return to the distribution management system or another back endsystem. The distribution management system may then directly provide acredit to the account of the user or communicate with another back endsystem (i.e., back end or back office systems 120 shown in FIG. 1) orother accounting system within or external to the back end or backoffice system that will provide a credit to the account of the user. Theaccount of the user may be any account associated with the back end orback office systems, the distribution management system, a financialinstitution of the user, or any other account associated with the useror from which funs or credits are used to purchase or rent the portableelectrical energy storage device.

The credit may be in the form of money, points, or any other item ofvalue. For example, the credit, coupon or voucher may be for anupgraded, new, or high performance portable electrical energy storagedevice that may be provided by the collection, charging and distributionmachine to the user immediately upon return of the user's currentportable electrical energy storage device at the selected collection,charging and distribution machine. Also, the collection, charging anddistribution machine may provide printed or electronic coupons, cards orvouchers that are redeemable at one or more other collection, chargingand distribution machines for the upgraded portable electrical energystorage device. The printed or electronic coupons, cards or vouchers mayhave one or more machine readable symbols that a scanner of thecollection, charging and distribution machine reads to determine thevalue and other relevant data regarding the coupon or voucher. Also, theincentive may be stored as a credit on a card associated with the userthat has a machine readable symbol, strip, RFID, or other chip to storesuch information.

FIG. 7 shows a low level method 700 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including causing a message to be sent includinginstructions to redistribute electrical energy storage devices, usefulin the method of FIG. 5.

At 702, the distribution management system 302 causes a message to besent including instructions to redistribute one or more portableelectrical energy storage devices from one or more collection, chargingand distribution machines having a surplus of charged portableelectrical energy storage devices to one or more other selectedcollection, charging and distribution machines having a deficit ofcharged portable electrical energy storage devices.

FIG. 8 shows a low level method 800 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including redistributing portable electrical energy storagedevices, useful in the method of FIG. 5.

At 802, the distribution management system 302 causes redistribution ofthe one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from the oneor more collection, charging and distribution machines having thesurplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to the oneor more other selected collection, charging and distribution machineshaving the deficit of charged portable electrical energy storagedevices. For example, this may be via one or more portable electricalenergy storage device transfer services or via the users of the portableelectrical energy storage devices returning the portable electricalenergy storage devices to locations selected by the distributionmanagement system 302.

FIG. 9 shows a low level method 900 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including sending information regarding installation orremoval of collection, charging and distribution machines, useful in themethod of FIG. 5.

At 902, the distribution management system 302 sends, based on analyzingthe information regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceexchanges, information initiating at least one of: installation of oneor more new collection, charging and distribution machines and removalof one or more existing collection, charging and distribution machinesof the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.

FIG. 10 shows a high level method 1000 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including determining a redistribution based on receivedinformation regarding demand for charged portable electrical energystorage devices.

At 1002, the distribution management system 302 receives informationregarding demand for charged portable electrical energy storage devices,the demand being at a plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines for portable electrical energy storage devices.

At 1004, the distribution management system 302 determines aredistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices between theplurality of collection, charging and distribution machines according toat least the received information regarding demand.

At 1006, the distribution management system 302 sends informationinitiating the redistribution between the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines.

FIG. 11 shows a low level method 1100 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including determining the redistribution according to anaccelerated charging scenario at a collection, charging and distributionmachine, useful in the method of FIG. 10.

At 1102, the distribution management system 302 determines theredistribution according to a first number of portable electrical energystorage devices currently removably located at a collection, chargingand distribution machine of the plurality of collection, charging anddistribution machines to be charged at an accelerated rate relative toat least a second number of portable electrical energy storage devicescurrently removably located at the collection, charging and distributionmachine via energy supplied from at least the second number of portableelectrical energy storage devices.

For example, if the first number of portable electrical energy storagedevices is currently using the energy from the second number of portableelectrical energy storage devices, then the distribution managementsystem 302 may determine that the collection, charging and distributionmachine containing those portable electrical energy storage devices mayneed more charged portable electrical energy storage devices at thatparticular collection, charging and distribution machine to support theaccelerated charging and the general user demand at that particularcollection, charging and distribution machine. The distribution ofelectrical energy storage devices between the collection, charging anddistribution machines in the system 300 may then be adjusted accordinglyby the distribution management system 302.

FIG. 12 shows a low level method 1200 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including analyzing the information regarding demand toincrease the likelihood of availability of charged portable electricalenergy storage devices at selected machines, useful in the method ofFIG. 10.

At 1202, the distribution management system 302 analyzes the informationregarding demand to increase the likelihood of availability of chargedportable electrical energy storage devices at selected collection,charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection,charging and distribution machines. This analysis is done to meetcurrent or predicted demand of charged portable electrical energystorage devices at the particular collection, charging and distributionmachines of the plurality of collection, charging and distributionmachines.

FIG. 13 shows a low level method 1300 of operating the distributionmanagement system 302 of FIG. 3 and FIG. 4 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including sending the information regarding demand to one ormore portable electrical energy storage device transfer services, usefulin the method of FIG. 10.

At 1302, the distribution management system 302 sends the informationregarding demand to one or more portable electrical energy storagedevice transfer services. For example, the distribution managementsystem 302 may automatically send instructions to the transfer service312 (shown in FIG. 3) to physically perform the redistribution or bringadditional charged electrical energy storage devices into the network ofcollection, charging and distribution machines in the system 300 (shownin FIG. 3).

FIG. 14 shows a high level method 1400 of operating the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment.

At 1402, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 sendsinformation regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceexchanges occurring at the collection, charging and distribution machine(which is one of a plurality of such collection, charging anddistribution machines).

At 1404, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 receivesinformation regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceredistribution between the collection, charging and distribution machineand one or more other collection, charging and distribution machines ofthe plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines;

At 1406, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 receivesa request from a user to exchange a portable electrical energy storagedevice at the collection, charging and distribution machine;

At 1408, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 respondsto the request to exchange the portable electrical energy storage devicebased on the received information regarding portable electrical energystorage device redistribution.

FIG. 15 shows a low level method 1500 of operating the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, including sending the information regarding portableelectrical energy storage device exchanges to the distributionmanagement system 302 (shown in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 4), useful in themethod of FIG. 14.

At 1502, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 sends theinformation regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceexchanges to distribution management system 302. For example, thisinformation is sent to the distribution management system 302 such thatthe distribution management system 302 can track usage data at thecollection, charging and distribution machine 102 and determine demandand the distribution and redistribution of portable electrical energystorage devices between collection, charging and distribution machinesaccordingly.

FIG. 16 shows a low level method 1600 of operating the collection,charging and distribution machine 102 of FIG. 1 to redistribute portableelectrical energy storage devices between collection, charging anddistribution machines, according to one non-limiting illustratedembodiment, by causing a message to be presented to the user regardingexchanging the portable electrical energy storage device at one or moreother selected machines, useful in the method of FIG. 14.

At 1602, the collection, charging and distribution machine 102 causes amessage to be presented to the user regarding exchanging the portableelectrical energy storage device at one or more other selectedcollection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality ofcollection, charging and distribution machines according to the receivedinformation regarding portable electrical energy storage deviceredistribution. For example, this message presentation may occuraccording to instructions provided to the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 by the distribution management system 302 orother backend central control system such back end or back officesystems 120 shown in FIG. 1. Alternatively, the collection, charging anddistribution machine 102 may present the message based on adetermination made by the collection, charging and distribution machine102 that a redistribution of electrical energy storage devices shouldoccur based on current demand and information received from othercollection, charging and distribution machines. In some instances, themessage includes a redeemable incentive to the user to return theportable electrical energy storage device to the one or more otherselected collection, charging and distribution machines.

The various methods described herein may include additional acts, omitsome acts, and/or may perform the acts in a different order than set outin the various flow diagrams.

The foregoing detailed description has set forth various embodiments ofthe devices and/or processes via the use of block diagrams, schematics,and examples. Insofar as such block diagrams, schematics, and examplescontain one or more functions and/or operations, it will be understoodby those skilled in the art that each function and/or operation withinsuch block diagrams, flowcharts, or examples can be implemented,individually and/or collectively, by a wide range of hardware, software,firmware, or virtually any combination thereof. In one embodiment, thepresent subject matter may be implemented via one or moremicrocontrollers. However, those skilled in the art will recognize thatthe embodiments disclosed herein, in whole or in part, can beequivalently implemented in standard integrated circuits (e.g.,Application Specific Integrated Circuits or ASICs), as one or morecomputer programs executed by one or more computers (e.g., as one ormore programs running on one or more computer systems), as one or moreprograms executed by on one or more controllers (e.g., microcontrollers)as one or more programs executed by one or more processors (e.g.,microprocessors), as firmware, or as virtually any combination thereof,and that designing the circuitry and/or writing the code for thesoftware and/or firmware would be well within the skill of one ofordinary skill in the art in light of the teachings of this disclosure.

When logic is implemented as software and stored in memory, logic orinformation can be stored on any non-transitory computer-readable mediumfor use by or in connection with any processor-related system or method.In the context of this disclosure, a memory is a nontransitory computer-or processor-readable storage medium that is an electronic, magnetic,optical, or other physical device or means that non-transitorilycontains or stores a computer and/or processor program. Logic and/or theinformation can be embodied in any computer-readable medium for use byor in connection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, ordevice, such as a computer-based system, processor-containing system, orother system that can fetch the instructions from the instructionexecution system, apparatus, or device and execute the instructionsassociated with logic and/or information.

In the context of this specification, a “computer-readable medium” canbe any physical element that can store the program associated with logicand/or information for use by or in connection with the instructionexecution system, apparatus, and/or device. The computer-readable mediumcan be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system, apparatusor device. More specific examples (a non-exhaustive list) of thecomputer readable medium would include the following: a portablecomputer diskette (magnetic, compact flash card, secure digital, or thelike), a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), anerasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM, EEPROM, or Flash memory),a portable compact disc read-only memory (CDROM), and digital tape.

The various embodiments described above can be combined to providefurther embodiments. To the extent that they are not inconsistent withthe specific teachings and definitions herein, all of the U.S. patents,U.S. patent application publications, U.S. patent applications, foreignpatents, foreign patent applications and non-patent publicationsreferred to in this specification and/or listed in the Application DataSheet, including but not limited to: U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/511,900 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/647,936 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH ASBATTERIES” and filed May 16, 2012, U.S. provisional patent applicationSer. No. 61/534,753 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORREDISTRIBUTING POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BETWEENCOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,761 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROLOF POWER STORAGE DEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” and filed Sep. 14, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/534,772 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROLOF POWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES, BASED ON USER PROFILES” andfiled Sep. 14, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/511,887 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OF COMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTORDRIVE VEHICLES” and filed Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/647,941 entitled “THERMAL MANAGEMENT OFCOMPONENTS IN ELECTRIC MOTOR DRIVE VEHICLES” and filed May 16, 2012,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/511,880 entitled“DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FOR BEST EFFORT ECONOMY” andfiled Jul. 26, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/557,170 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD, AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICALSECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES IN VEHICLES” and filed Nov. 8, 2011,U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/581,566 entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COMPARTMENT”and filed Dec. 29, 2011, U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No.61/601,404 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING VEHICLEDIAGNOSTIC DATA” and filed Feb. 21, 2012, U.S. provisional patentapplication Ser. No. 61/601,949 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLEFOR PROVIDING LOCATIONS OF POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTION MACHINES” and filed Feb. 22, 2012, and U.S. provisionalpatent application Ser. No. 61/601,953 entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDING AVAILABILITY OF POWERSTORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING ANDDISTRIBUTION MACHINE” and filed Feb. 22, 2012, U.S. application Ser. No.13/559,314, filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke, MatthewWhiting Taylor and Huang-Cheng Hung as inventors and entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTINGPOWER STORAGE DEVICES, SUCH AS BATTERIES”, U.S. application Ser. No.13/559,038, filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke andMatthew Whiting Taylor as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD ANDARTICLE FOR AUTHENTICATION, SECURITY AND CONTROL OF POWER STORAGEDEVICES SUCH AS BATTERIES” U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,264, filedon Jul. 26, 2012 naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke and Matthew Whiting Tayloras inventors and entitled “DYNAMICALLY LIMITING VEHICLE OPERATION FORBEST EFFORT ECONOMY”, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,054, filed onJul. 26, 2012, naming Matthew Whiting Taylor, Yi-Tsung Wu, Hok-SumHorace Luke and Huang-Cheng Hung as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD, AND ARTICLE FOR PHYSICAL SECURITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES INVEHICLES”, U.S. application Ser. No. 13/559,390, filed on Jul. 26, 2012,naming Ching Chen, Hok-Sum Horace Luke, Matthew Whiting Taylor, Yi-TsungWu as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FORPROVIDING VEHICLE DIAGNOSTIC DATA”, U.S. application Ser. No.13/559,343, filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Yi-Tsung Wu, Matthew WhitingTaylor, Hok-Sum Horace Luke and Jung-Hsiu Chen as inventors and entitled“APPARATUS, METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR PROVIDING INFORMATION REGARDINGAVAILABILITY OF POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT A POWER STORAGE DEVICECOLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINE”, and U.S. applicationSer. No. 13/559,064, filed on Jul. 26, 2012, naming Hok-Sum Horace Luke,Yi-Tsung Wu, Jung-Hsiu Chen, Yulin Wu, Chien Ming Huang, TsungTing Chan,Shen-Chi Chen and Feng Kai Yang as inventors and entitled “APPARATUS,METHOD AND ARTICLE FOR RESERVING POWER STORAGE DEVICES AT RESERVINGPOWER STORAGE DEVICE COLLECTION, CHARGING AND DISTRIBUTION MACHINES” areincorporated herein by reference, in their entirety. Aspects of theembodiments can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, circuitsand concepts of the various patents, applications and publications toprovide yet further embodiments.

While generally discussed in the environment and context of collection,charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devicesfor use with personal transportation vehicle such as all-electricscooters and/or motorbikes, the teachings herein can be applied in awide variety of other environments, including other vehicular as well asnon-vehicular environments.

The above description of illustrated embodiments, including what isdescribed in the Abstract of the Disclosure, is not intended to beexhaustive or to limit the embodiments to the precise forms disclosed.Although specific embodiments and examples are described herein forillustrative purposes, various equivalent modifications can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the disclosure, as willbe recognized by those skilled in the relevant art.

These and other changes can be made to the embodiments in light of theabove-detailed description. In general, in the following claims, theterms used should not be construed to limit the claims to the specificembodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should beconstrued to include all possible embodiments along with the full scopeof equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, theclaims are not limited by the disclosure.

We claim:
 1. A method of operating a distribution system for portable electrical energy storage devices, the method comprising: receiving, by at least one configured distribution management system for portable electrical energy storage devices, information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices between a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines for collection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices; analyzing, by the at least one configured distribution management system, the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices to determine a physical redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines; and sending, by the at least one configured distribution management system, information initiating the physical redistribution between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines, wherein the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices indicates a first one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines has a lower inventory of charged portable electrical energy storage devices than a second one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines and wherein the information initiating the physical redistribution includes information to initiate physical redistribution of one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from the second one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines to the first one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 2. The method of claim 1 wherein the sending the information includes causing a message to be sent, the message including information identifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging and distribution machines to return a portable electrical energy storage device to according to the physical redistribution.
 3. The method of claim 1 further comprising: sending, by the at least one configured distribution management system, based on the analyzing the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices, information initiating at least one of: installation of one or more new collection, charging and distribution machines and removal of one or more existing collection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 4. A method of operating a distribution system for portable electrical energy storage devices, the method comprising: receiving, by at least one configured distribution management system for portable electrical energy storage devices, information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices between a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines for collection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices; analyzing, by the at least one configured distribution management system, the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices to determine a physical redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines; and sending, by the at least one configured distribution management system, information initiating the physical redistribution between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines, wherein the sending the information includes causing a message to be sent, the message including information identifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging and distribution machines to return a portable electrical energy storage device to according to the physical redistribution and the message includes a redeemable incentive to a user to return the portable electrical energy storage device, the redeemable incentive being a credit, provided to the user upon return of the portable electrical energy storage device to the selected one or more collection, charging and distribution machines, for an upgraded or premium portable electrical energy storage device.
 5. A method of operating a distribution system for portable electrical energy storage devices, the method comprising: receiving, by at least one configured distribution management system for portable electrical energy storage devices, information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices between a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines for collection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices; analyzing, by the at least one configured distribution management system, the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices to determine a physical redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines; and sending, by the at least one configured distribution management system, information initiating the physical redistribution between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines, wherein the sending the information includes causing a message to be sent including instructions to redistribute one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from one or more collection, charging and distribution machines having a surplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to one or more other selected collection, charging and distribution machines having a deficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devices.
 6. The method of claim 5 further comprising: redistributing the one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from the one or more collection, charging and distribution machines having the surplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to the one or more other selected collection, charging and distribution machines having the deficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devices.
 7. The method of claim 6 wherein the redistributing includes physically moving one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from the one or more collection, charging and distribution machines having the surplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to the one or more other selected collection, charging and distribution machines having the deficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devices.
 8. The method of claim 7 wherein the physically moving is performed by one or more delivery vehicles.
 9. A distribution management system for portable electrical energy storage devices, comprising: at least one processor of the distribution management system; at least one processor-readable memory of the distribution management system that stores instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to: receive information regarding demand for charged portable electrical energy storage devices, the demand being at a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines for portable electrical energy storage devices, wherein the information regarding demand includes information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines; determine a physical redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines according to at least the received information regarding demand; and send information initiating the physical redistribution between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines by causing a message to be sent including instructions to redistribute one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from one or more collection, charging and distribution machines having a surplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to one or more other selected collection, charging and distribution machines having a deficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devices.
 10. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information regarding demand includes information regarding relative demand for charged portable electrical energy storage devices between different times of day, week or year.
 11. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information regarding demand includes information regarding relative demand of charged portable electrical energy storage devices between geographical locations.
 12. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information regarding demand includes information regarding historic usage patterns of one or more of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 13. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information regarding demand includes information regarding user vehicle locations.
 14. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information regarding demand includes information regarding portable electrical energy storage device charge capacity.
 15. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information regarding demand includes information regarding route information of users of one or more of the charged portable electrical energy storage devices.
 16. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to determine the physical redistribution include further instructions to cause the at least one processor to determine the physical redistribution according to a first number of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at a collection, charging and distribution machine of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines to be charged at an accelerated rate relative to at least a second number of portable electrical energy storage devices currently removably located at the collection, charging and distribution machine via energy supplied from at least the second number of portable electrical energy storage devices.
 17. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the instructions executable by the at least one processor to cause the at least one processor to determine the physical redistribution cause the at least one processor to determine the physical redistribution by analyzing the information regarding demand to increase a likelihood of availability of charged portable electrical energy storage devices at selected collection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines to meet current or predicted demand of charged portable electrical energy storage devices at the selected collection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 18. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the message to be sent includes information identifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging and distribution machines to return a portable electrical energy storage device to according to the determined physical redistribution.
 19. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the information is sent to one or more collection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 20. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the instructions executable by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to send the information to one or more users of one or more portable electrical energy storage devices, the one or more a portable electrical energy storage devices being from one or more of the collection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 21. The distribution management system of claim 9 wherein the instructions executable by the at least one processor cause the at least one processor to send the information to one or more portable electrical energy storage device transfer services.
 22. A non-transitory computer-readable medium that stores instructions that, when executed by a distribution system for portable electrical energy storage devices, cause the distribution system to perform: receiving information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices between a plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines for collection, charging and distribution of portable electrical energy storage devices; analyzing the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices to determine a physical redistribution of portable electrical energy storage devices between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines; and sending information initiating the physical redistribution between the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines, wherein the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices indicates a first one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines has a lower inventory of charged portable electrical energy storage devices than a second one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines and wherein the information initiating the physical redistribution includes information to initiate physical redistribution of one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from the second one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines to the first one of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed by a distribution system for portable electrical energy storage devices, further cause the distribution system to perform: sending, based on the analyzing the information tracking physical exchanges of portable electrical energy storage devices for charged portable electrical energy storage devices, information initiating at least one of: installation of one or more new collection, charging and distribution machines and removal of one or more existing collection, charging and distribution machines of the plurality of collection, charging and distribution machines.
 24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the instructions, when executed by the distribution system for portable electrical energy storage devices, further cause the distribution system to perform: causing a message to be sent, the message including information identifying a selected one or more of the collection, charging and distribution machines to return a portable electrical energy storage device to according to the physical redistribution.
 25. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the sending the information includes causing a message to be sent including instructions to redistribute one or more portable electrical energy storage devices from one or more collection, charging and distribution machines having a surplus of charged portable electrical energy storage devices to one or more other selected collection, charging and distribution machines having a deficit of charged portable electrical energy storage devices.
 26. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the sending the information includes causing a message to be sent including a redeemable incentive to a user to return a portable electrical energy storage device to a selected one or more collection, charging and distribution machines, the redeemable incentive being a credit, provided to the user upon return of the portable electrical energy storage device to the selected one or more collection, charging and distribution machines, for an upgraded or premium portable electrical energy storage device. 